Mikkelsen expects winning streak to end

Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen reckons his winning streak will probably come to an end in the Canary Islands this weekend.

The Skoda UK driver swept to the 2011 title with wins in the season-closing Scotland and Cyprus rounds, then kicked off 2012 with an Azores triumph - making him the first man in IRC history to take three straight victories.

But Mikkelsen thinks he will have to settle for a podium finish in Canarias, where he was only sixth last season.

“Being the first driver to win three consecutive IRC rallies is a nice feeling, but it will be hard to keep it going on Gran Canarias because it’s a tough event," said the Norwegian. "It’s the first rally of the year on Tarmac and there are a lot of very fast Tarmac drivers, so if I get a podium I will be very happy with that.”

Mikkelsen clarified that he did not expect to be as far off the lead as he was on the event in 2012, as it is no longer unfamiliar and he has made great strides on asphalt since then.

“I enjoyed the rally in Gran Canarias last year," he said. "We went there to learn the stages and get a solid result, and that’s what we achieved.

"I’m a much stronger driver on Tarmac now, so we want to be faster for sure, but we also want to finish and score points."

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